OC Dining Deals

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Comment by Brent Courier on February 19, 2010 at 5:07am

Brent’s Top picks OC Restaurant Week: (no stones, please)

Only Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach, CDM and Laguna Beach included (FYI, I broke this rule below.) Also, I’m excluding my favorite “go-to’s” such as Bayside, Pascal’s (all), and Mozambique, because I dine at these fine establishments often. If you haven’t tried these very high quality restaurants, I highly recommend their menus this week.

Anqi doesn’t have a menu yet, but I’d bet that it’ll be interesting.

Tabu doesn’t have a menu yet, but I’d bet that it’ll be interesting. (Zagat 29-rating) This may be a tough reservation. Perhaps “coveted.”

K’ya Bistro Bar is “bringing it” again. What a great menu and price. Better reserve early.

Marrakesh is a nice surprise entrant. Check out their menu. Great excuse to get your Yoga-freak-on.

Palm Terrace Restaurant is putting out a very stellar menu.

Riviera at Fireside. (okay, a Westminster entrant, included) Great excuse to try, as they are putting out their “goods” this week. Both Lunch and Dinner are outstanding deals. It’s an old-school “cool” place to dine.

Spark Woodfire Grill. Check out their menu. Looks very good / very nice location.

Stonehill Tavern. Menu looks rather simple, but Michael Mina products usually sizzle. I always feel privileged to have dined at his establishments.

South Coast Winery (okay, a Santa Ana entrant) Lunch menu is an amazing deal.

Signature Kitchen. Lunch for $10, wow. Lots of nice little tastes. Well done.

Salt Creek Grill is giving lunch away for $10. Tip well.

Sage on the Coast. Remarkable that I haven’t dined at a Sage product. Their lunch and dinner both look outstanding. (Beets&Citrus, Monchong (wow!), and Fondant) $20. Show me the way.

The Ritz Restaurant. Lunch. $20. Good looking menu. I’ve dined here more than once, and believe its lunch menu creates tough choices. (all good one’s)

Pizzeria Ortica. Now’s our chance to try. Menu stands up. I think I’d pick lunch because I want to try their Margherita. Their dinner menu looks solid, as well. They get a lot of accolades, so they must be doing it “right.”

Nirvana Grille. Great menus. Wonder what will be on their Sunday Brunch? Also, might as well add wine to your meal for a very reasonable $15 surcharge.

Lucca Café. Wish it wasn’t so far away from me. (I was thinking of that old tune by Dire Straights, when I wrote that line. . .getting late. . .in HNL) Their dinner menu is very enticing. What to pick? “Just choose for me. . .please.”

Chaparosa Grill. If you haven’t tried this gent’s fare, you’re not being fair to yourself. I’m not a sandwich-guy, but his Jerked Chicken Sandwich with Mango Relish on Baguette is on his $10 lunch menu. ‘Nuff-said.

I’m going to throw “25 Degrees” into the mix, because I haven’t tried them. We know the Goodell’s create great product, and I’ve read very good reviews. Not surprising. Great excuse to try, I’d say.

Save me a reservation. . .As usual, I’m crazy busy that week, and will be lucky to hit even one restaurant. Please post your faves (and why) on OC Foodies.

Thanks Griffin, for your post.

Now, can someone please tell me how I can get an invite to the launch on the 27th? I’m actually off that day, and registration is already full. I’d enjoy meeting my fellow contributors.

--Brent

Comment by Brent Courier on December 9, 2009 at 8:16am

If any of our 37-other members are heading out to Hawaii (especially), San Salvador (unlikely), San Juan, NYC, Boston, Miami or D.C.--please let me know, as I have documented, and narrowed down these dining destinations as well, and would be happy to send you my Word docs on these locales. For me, it's more than the food--more than half of it is the adventure of finding it, and the people you meet along the path to discovery.

Comment by Brent Courier on December 8, 2009 at 8:31am

Just received an email from Chimayo's in Huntington B. They are back to offering $10 6oz. Filet, Mahi, or 1/2 lb crab Mon-Thurs. until Dec. 30th. Not exciting, but a good bite, esp. if you get hungry during their nice HH.

Pascal raised his prices at his Brasserie, as I'm sure he needed to, but he still has very nice 2-crs meals offered at $15-20 (all day long), and some very good everyday lunch deals. 1/2 Croque, soup & salad, homemade chips = $10. I consider that to be a very high quality deal, especially at his establishment.

I consider Pascal's Brasserie (HH 5-7, FYI--but his other deals run all day), Bayside's bar (and a few tables outside) deal 5pm until 9pm (previously discussed lamb chops, carbonara (I tried to copy, and failed. . .), nicely prepared ahi, and greek salad) plus large, high quality, Martini's and Wine for 5 or 6-bucks---genteel piano-player included, the A-Restaurant's 3-6 pm 1/2 price all drinks and high-quality apps (i.e. dinner. . .), Sushi Zen (located on Newport Blvd in the old "Nike Town" shopping center) (check on their HH times: 4?-7?, I forget) for many half-off delicious cold and warm options (I really like their yellowtail collar), plus delicious sake deals (1/2 price on some very decent quality. .) and Oyster's in CDM (if they are still open) HH 4-7 M-Sat, 1/2 apps, $5 wine and $6 Martinis, to be possibly the very best go-to "deals" in the Newport area, presently. I have also taken a liking to RA Sushi (HH 3-7) in Huntington (very American) but if you order right ("nothing with cream cheese, please"), it's quite enjoyable, and the servers have all been very nice, patient and attentive (yup, and right near Main St.--can't speak similar for the sometimes "more than animated" crowd.) Guess it comes with the territory.

Whenever I get takeout, Cucina Alessa is always at the top of my list. No "deals" per se, but I continue to find the quality product/value quotient to be most appetizing. I have a hard time getting away from his high quality Caesar, and his version of Pasta with Shrimp in Pink Sauce. He has a newer restaurant near Main St. area (inland a block) in HB, also.

Golden Truffle continues no corkage Thursdays. (Often, though, their wine offerings are interesting and quite reasonable, FYI)

La Cave has "nightly specials," so better call to see if it's "your" night. I believe that they are offering complimentary corkage for up to two bottles of wine from 5-8pm M-Sat.

Nothing really new to report, just a little update as to times, and the evolution of good dishes/deals. Anyone find any "new" restaurants or new deals?

(I had a little sit time in MIA, waiting to deadhead back to LAX, hence the fairly thorough update. I'll be posting the mid-section of this piece on the HH group site for them, so if you're in both goups, you can ignore it)--Cheers!--Brent

Comment by Annmarie on December 6, 2009 at 4:55pm

Jules--LOL I had the EXACT same thing you did at K'ya and was equally impressed. We too had horrible service from the lead server (I believe his name was Tyler) that night also (which is not always the case) and actually called the manager to let him know :(. Usually though its a great place to eat.

Comment by Annmarie on December 6, 2009 at 4:53pm

Linda Reed--restaurant.com is awesome. Just read the fine print for how much you have to spend to use the gift certificate and any blackout dates/times. They start at the beginning of the month and "sell out" towards the end so sometimes they slash prices at the end of the month so check back often!

Comment by Linda Reed on November 17, 2009 at 1:37pm

Has anyone tried Restaurant.com yet?

Comment by Brent Courier on September 17, 2009 at 6:38am

Jules, I'm envious. I would've loved to have tried K'ya this week--thanks for the review. I can't believe that I'm too busy to do restaurant week. Talk about bad timing for me. . .I'm hoping we get some more shout out's on this page from other "foodiphiles" experiences this week. "Lobster. . . Truffle. . . Risotto. . . . . . . . " (Italicized. . .Mmmm. . . .) :-)

Comment by Jules on September 16, 2009 at 9:54am

Hi everyone! I dined at K'ya Bistro Bar last night and I must say, the food was great! I had the Lobster Truffle Risotto and it was SO rich and creamy and perfectly executed! The appetizer was very good as well: Flash Fried Calamari w/ a thai peanut sauce. But the star of the night was definitely the Bread Pudding w/ Vanilla Ice Cream. It sounds simple but it was done extremely well. I'm not a huge dessert eater but this dessert was absolutely divine! All of this plus a glass of wine for just $20!

The only thing that was lacking in this place was the service. We had reservations but still had to wait 30 minutes and our server was just OK. The atmosphere is extremely loud and cramp but I guess that's why it's a Bistro Bar?

With that aside, I still recommend it because the food speaks for itself!

Comment by Jerilyn on September 15, 2009 at 12:43pm

A couple of girlfriends and I are trying Bayside tonight! The special menu sounds delicious, and we can't wait!

Comment by Jules on September 15, 2009 at 12:42pm

Has anyone participated in restaurant week yet? I'm having my first restaurant week dinner tonight! So tough to pick a restaurant though! I'ved narrowed it down to 3: K'ya Bistro Bar, Flight Bistro, or Taps Fish House. Advice anyone?

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